Wolverines score in the 90th minute to remain perfect at home.
Christian Ledek | Sports writer | @sea_led
Orem, UT – The Utah Valley University Wolverines women’s soccer team won a close match against the Vikings of Portland State Sunday afternoon, scoring in the final minute of the game.
The Wolverines remain unbeaten at home, moving their record to 5-4-0, while the Vikings drop to 2-6-0 on the season.
The first ten minutes of the match were controlled by UVU. They had most of the possession but couldn’t find a good scoring opportunity to test the Vikings defense. Then in the 11th minute of the game, the Vikings had a one-on-one opportunity against Wolverine goalkeeper Jessica Duffin from a good through ball down the middle of the field. Duffin was able to make the save. In the midst of the Wolverines clearing the ball, Viking midfielder Cori Bianchini hit a shot from 25 yards out to the top left corner that forced another save from Duffin.
The second half was more of the same. Both teams went back and forth trying to find that elusive opening goal. The 58th minute saw the Vikings have their best chance to score in the game. Bianchini got on the end of another through ball through the middle of the field and blasted a shot to Duffin’s right. The Wolverine keeper came up big again. She was able to dive and make the save.
Finally, in the 90th minute of a match that looked for sure as if it was headed into overtime, Wolverine midfielder Kali Stubbs collected a pass from Angie Timm 22 yards outside the Vikings goal. Stubbs sent her shot to the top right corner of the net past the diving Vikings keeper. Head coach Brent Anderson was proud of his team’s resilience to get the goal in regulation.
“Portland State’s a very good team and we knew they’d be very organized defensively,” Anderson said. “We knew we had to get the ball out wide and when we did that we created chances.”
Coach Anderson also addressed his team’s ability to bounce back from a close 1-0 loss at UTEP on Friday.
“We have a deep, talented squad. I love that about the team,” Anderson said. “They are resilient. They don’t care if they give up a goal early or if we don’t score until late, they just keep pushing. That’s the mark of a very good team.”
Jessica Duffin recorded her third shutout of the season and is now the all-time leader in shutouts in women’s soccer at Utah Valley University.
“It feels great, but it’s a team accomplishment,” Duffin said. “We keep things organized and it’s something we work very hard at.”
The Wolverines are back in action as they open up WAC conference play Saturday, September 26at Clyde Field in Orem against Seattle University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST
